Stifling Shutouts: Jered Weaver Stops A's; Ian Kennedy 3-Hits Phillies

Players of the Day for Monday, April 25, 2011

American League

Jered Weaver

Jered Weaver is on a roll and the rest of the American League isn't happy about it.

Weaver kept his record perfect, winning his sixth game in as many starts with a 5-0 shutout over the A's.

The ace of the Angels stopped Oakland on seven hits, walking one and striking out 10 for his third career shutout and sixth career complete game. In 45 2/3 innings this season, Weaver's allowed a measly five runs and his strikeout total - now at 49 - is the most in the majors. In the AL he leads Justin Verlander (35) and Ricky Romero (34) by a solid margin.

LA scored twice in the second inning, adding a single run in the third and two more in the fourth to give Weaver a working lead that he used to his advantage.

The Angels trail Texas in the AL West by 1 1/2 games.

National League

Ian Kennedy

Normally, it's the Phillies doing the shutting out.

On Monday, Arizona's Ian Kennedy turned the tables on the AL East leaders with a 3-hit shutout and a 4-0 win for the Diamondbacks.

Matched up against Philly's Cliff Lee, Kennedy didn't flinch, while Lee - who fanned 12 - allowed all of Arizona's scores in his seven innings of work.

Kennedy, meanwhile, was busy working through the Philadelphia lineup. He gave up a double in the first inning to Placido Polanco, a Jimmy Rollins single in the 4th and a single by Polanco in the 6th. After that, no Phillie reached base for the duration of the contest.

Improving to 3-1, Kennedy fanned Rollins, Lee, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard twice each, ending the game with a swinging strikeout of Rollins, which brought his total for the game to 10.

It was Kennedy's initial complete game and shutout. His 10 Ks are a season high.